Necktie pressing machine



March 26, 1957 H, w, MAXANT r 2,786,617

NECKTIE PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 as 3/ 23a.

a 636 l g7 [we/12205 49.- Hezzr WMmraazi, W Emma,

March 26, 1957' H. w. MAXANT ETAL 2,786,517

NECKTIE PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet s March 26, 1957 H. w. MAXANT ETAL 2,786,617

NECKTIE. PRESSING MACHINE Filed Jan. 9, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Henri); Wmzzani, Warm H l 'a dz'e,

Company, Boston,Mas's.,"a corporation of Massachne setts Application January 9,, 1956, Serial No. 557,969 3 l m?! l- 2 3.77

This invention relates to pressing machines, and particularly to machines of the general 'type used in commercial dry cleaning establishments for pressing mens neckties.

Pressing machines previously devi ed for pressing neckties have generally consisted of a stationary, tapered, heated horn and an arm carrying a heated presser foot which is brought down on to the tie when the latter is in place on the horn. In order-to produce even edges in pressing ties, which are ordinarily cut on the bias and tend to twist and stretch readily, the shaper must be tapered to conform fairly accurately to the original shape of the tie. As styles of neckties vary, a single shaper is not suitable for pressing all ties. On present tie pressing machines the removal and replacement of a shaper would require shutting downthe machine and uncoupling the shaper from the steam supply. As it is impractical to change shapers, a tie which does not fit must be laid on top of the shaper, and a .tie which is wider than the shaper mustbe moved and pressed twice. This practice results in an inferior pressing'job'.

The principal object of vthe present invention is to provide a tie pressing machine with a number of shapers of various sizes and tape into pressing position with a minimum of labor and without shutting down ordismantling the machine. Another object is to provide a shaper selecting mechanism which will withstand the normal heat at which, the machine operates withnut binding or sticking, d which oaube cperated with very little elfortQlfSkill, till anotherohieet is to provide a shaper asseniblyiizhich can be readily "removed and replaced if a different selection of shaper sizes is required. Other advantages of the machine here disclosed will be apparent from the following description.

In general, the machine consists of a hinged presser arm, or buck, a stationary heated backer plate, a number of shapers of different taper which normally rest against the back plate but are hinged so that they can be raised singly for pressing a tie, and a latch linkage for engaging a selected shaper and raising it from the back plate.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete assembled machine;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in cross-section, of the machine of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the backer plate of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the latch linkage which raises the various shapers;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view of three shapers of assorted sizes, as they would be arranged above the backer plate, and the control rod for adjusting their position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section through the hinge connection of one of the shapers; and

Fig. 7 is a cross-section through the buck.

As shown in Fig. 1, the entire machine is intended to be mounted on a 'table, generally indicated by the nuwhich can be selectively brought I ited States Patent meral 20, and a base plate 21 is provided for attaching the machine, as desired, to a table or other support. A forked block 22 is attached to the base plate, and a movable arm 23, ordinarily referred to as the buck, is hinged by meansof a pin 24 to the forked lower part of block 22. A tension spring 25, normally holds the buck in raised position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A flexible tubing 26 connected through a coupling and strainer 27 to. a suitable source of steam supply carries steam up to the buck. A valve 28 controls the flow of steam through the buck, the constructionof which will be later described, and is intended to bewoperated manually when the is lowered to press a necktie. A cloth pad is secured around the lower surface and sides of the back. The lower part of block 22 and the various steam pipe connec. tions of the machine may be enclosed by. a hood 30.

The backer plate is made up of a rectangular frame 33, a top cover 34, and a bottom cover 35, all preferably of stainless steel. The top cover 34 has a turned-down flange 36 which is attached to a bracket 37 when the top plate is in place on the base. A'pair of braces 32 are providedv for bracing the back plate. The top cover 34 and bottom cover 35 are screwed or otherwise connected to frame 33; to form a closed box in which are mounted a number of steam coils 38, connected at one end to an intake mani fold 38a, which is supplied with steam through tube .3? and at the other end to an exhaust manifold 38b and ex! haust pipe 39a. In the lower end of top cover 34 is a slat 40 for admitting the latch memberwhich raises. a selected shaper, as will befurtherdescribed.

A tubular sleeve 45 having a longitudinal slot 46 isv mounted on the base plate to the right of the lower end of the backer plate. The shapers, shown in Fig. 5 as being three in number, 47, 48.and 49,and are preferably made of aluminum, have'hinge lleaves 5.0, 5 1, and 52, respectively, attached to oriformed in, their right-hand ends, These leaves are rotatable within sleeve 45 and are also slidable axially along the sleeve in the transverse direction of the machine. A rod 53, having a handle pgrtion 54 with a shoulder 54a, runs through the leaves ofall the shapers and 'is'secured .bya rear flange 55. The rod carries collars 44 for' positioning the hinge leaves. of the sh pe y pul isrod ba k and for h the o era 0 r a. til Tear-shift I P hssh pers -h respect to" thebacker plate.

The shapers 47, 48 and 49 normally rest flat on the back plate. In order to raise one of the shapers so that a necktie can be slid over it, a latch mechanism, as shown in Fig. 4, is provided. This mechanism is essentially a linkage mounted on a bracket 56 on the under side of the backer plate. A handle 57 is connected to a block 58 which is rotatably mounted by means of a pin 59 on bracket 56. A rocker arm 60 is also rotatably mounted on bracket 56 by means of a pin 61. A link 62 connects block 58 to the upper end of arm 60. At the right-hand end of bracket 56, a V-shaped latch member 63 is rotatably mounted by means of a pin 64. A second link 65 connects this latch member with arm 60. A tension spring 66, anchored on the bracket 56, is attached to the lower end of arm 60 and serves to lock the linkage in open or closed position as arm 60 moves past dead center. The linkage, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, is in position to raise latch member 63. By moving handle 57 up, the entire linkage is moved to the position indicated by the dotted outlines 67, and latch member 63 is lowered. As shown in Fig. 3, latch member 63 when raised, projects through slot 40 in the top cover plate 34. In this position the latch member will engage one of the shapers, for example shaper 48, and hold it in raised position from the plate, as shown in Fig. 2.

A stop is provided at the front of the machine and ordinarily limits the forward travel of the shaper assembly by engaging the front edge of shaper 49. Stop 7% is placed so that rod 53 can be pulled forward far enough to bring shaper 47 to the center position on the back plate. By lifting the shapers so that they will pass over stop 76, the entire shaper and rod assembly can he slid out of sleeve 45, and replaced by another similar assembly carrying a different selection of shapers. The machine can thus be readily adapted to accommodate changes in prevailing styles and sizes or" neckties.

As shown in Fig. 7, the buck 23 has a central chamber 71, which runs along its entire length and is filled with steam. Attached around the bottom edges of the buck is a frame 72 on which a perforated plate 73 is mounted, the buck, plate and frame enclosing a second steam chamber 74. An asbestos pad 75 and flannel or felt pad '76 are laid over the bottom of plate '73, and cover 2% is applied over the pads and around the sides of the buck. Valve 28 has a stem of conventional type which slides into opening 77 and can be raised to uncover port '78 and admit steam from chamber 71 into chamber 7 4 and thence out through the perforated plate.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The backer plate 31 remains heated to the desired temperature while the machine is running. The operator first pushes rod 58 to the proper position for centering the shaper, which he wishes to select, on the hacker plate. He then presses down handle 57 to raise latch member 63 and thus raise the centered shaper from the backer plate. He slides the end of the necktie over the raised shaper and then brings buck 23 down against the shaper by means of handle 23a, preferably holding the shaper up to produce a rolled edge, rather than a sharp crease at the edge of the tie. Valve 23 is arranged to be opened to allow steam to pass through the lower surface of the buck when handle 23a is pushed down. When the operator releases the buck, the latter is returned to its raised position by spring 25. Latch member 63 may remain raised to hold the selected shaper up for receiving another tie, or the operator may lower the latch member and move the shaper assembly and select another shaper before the next pressing operation. As the latch member will remain in either up or down position until moved, due to the fact that spring 66 is arranged to hold arm 60 on either side of dead center about pin 61, the operator has both hands free for sliding a tie on and 011?.

What is claimed is:

1. A necktie pressing machine comprising a base, a stationary backer plate mounted on said base, a pressing member hingeably mounted on said base for movement toward and away from said plate, a number of tie shapers disposed to lie fiat against said plate between the latter and the pressing member, said shapers being hinged for swinging movement away from said plate, and means for selectively engaging and swinging any one of said shapers away from said plate.

2. A machine as described in claim 1, said engaging and swinging means comprising a latch member, and said shapers being transversely slidable with respect to said plate for positioning a selected shaper for engagement by the latch member.

3. A machine as described in claim 1, having a stop adapted to engage one of said shapers to limit transverse movement of the shapers, and said shapers being swingable to clear said' stopand permit their removal transversely from the machine.

4. A necktie pressing machine comprising a base, a stationary backer plate mounted on said base and having a central slot, a presser member hinged to said base for swinging movement toward and away from said plate, a tubular sleeve mounted on said base, a number of tie shapers, each having hinge leaf rotatably mounted and axially slidable in said sleeve, said shapers being adapted to lie fiat against said plate, a latch member mounted for movement through said slot from a retracted to a projecting position, said latch member being adapted when in the latter position to engage one of the shapers and move it away from said plate, and a linkage adapted to reciprocate said latch member between said retracted and projecting positions.

5. A machine as described in claim 4, said linkage including an arm having a fulcrum and a spring adapted to draw the arm to either side of a dead center position with respect to the fulcrum.

6. A machine as described in claim 3, having a rod, to which said shapers are secured, adapted to slide all said shapers simultaneously along said sleeve, and having a stop adapted to engage one of said shapers and limit axial movement of the shapers along the sleeve, said shapers being swingable to clear said stop and to permit the rod and shapers to be completely slid out of the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,126,577 Rawlinson Aug. 9, 1938 2,220,406 Jordan Nov. 5, 1940 2,241,373 Rawlinson et a1. May 6, 1941 

